Method of dynamically allocating contacts of a subscriber chip in a mobile terminal, and corresponding subscriber chip card and mobile terminal

Abstract

A contact allocation method for a subscriber smart card (300) in a mobile terminal (100) fitted with said card, the mobile terminal including at least first and second electronic modules (130, 140) suitable for communicating with the subscriber smart card (300) using respective first and second communications protocols. To enable the way in which the contacts of the subscriber smart card (300) are allocated to be managed dynamically, the card is connected to the first and to the second electronic modules (130, 140) in alternation by selectively connecting at least one contact (C4) of said card to the first or to the second electronic module (130, 140).

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 USC 371 of International Application PCT / IB2007 / 051052, filed on Mar. 26, 2007.[0002]This application claims the priority of French application no. 06 / 51206 filed on Apr. 5, 2006, and the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to the field of mobile telephony, and more particularly it relates to the functional architecture of a mobile terminal and to managing the electrical contacts of the subscriber smart card present in the terminal.PRIOR ART[0004]A mobile telephone is made up of various elements (keypad / screen, microphone / loudspeaker, radiocommunication element (e.g. of the global system for mobiles (GSM) type), etc.) that are dedicated to the various functions made available to the user. Amongst these various elements there is a subscriber smart card known as a subscriber identity module (SIM) or as a universal subscriber identity m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]One object of the present invention is to make it possible to allocate the contacts of a subscriber smart card dynamically between a plurality of modules of the mobile terminal, thus enabling the mobile terminal to use the capabilities of the subscriber smart card in alternation.

[0020]Thus, the invention enables the contacts of the subscriber smart card to be managed dynamically. A given contact of the smart card can be used for exchanging data with a plurality of electronic modules. In this way, adding an electronic module requiring communication with the subscriber smart card does not imply permanently occupying one or more of the contacts of the card, thus making it possible to have a card configuration that can change in the future and allow other electronic modules to be added even when the modules already present are making use of some or all of the available contacts of the card.

Problems solved by technology

The number of contacts on a subscriber smart card (SIM / USIM / UICC) card is limited to eight (of which three are still unused), so the options available for changes requiring the use of card contacts will quickly become limited.

In addition, multiplexing technology consumes software and hardware resources and does not appear to be adapted to environments that are as constricted as a mobile telephone, and above all as a subscriber smart card.

Nevertheless, that solution raises implementation problems.

“Interchip” type USB ports are not yet present in mobile terminals, thereby raising implementation problems.

Furthermore, the interface with the NFC modem (e.g. the S2C interface) is more complex to implement on one wire than on two.

Finally, that solution makes it necessary to use all the remaining free contacts on the subscriber smart card in a permanent and rigid manner, thereby blocking any future possibility for change in the use of the card.

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